Knife block for cut pile tufting machine

Claim 2

In a tufting machine for forming a cut pile fabric and including means for carrying a yarn through a backing fabric to form a plurality of tufting loops therein, the combination therewith of looper means operatively associated with said yarn-carrying means for engaging and retaining the tufting loops, severing means operatively associated with said looper means and including a knife bar mounted for oscillatory movement in relation to said looper means, a knife block, means for connecting said knife block to said bar in a predetermined angular relationship, and a knife carried by said knife block and adapted to cooperate with said looper means in severing the yarn loop upon relative oscillatory movement between the knife bar and looper means, said connecting means including a cylindrical shaft having one end connected to said knife block and terminating in a remote free end, a transverse slot positioned in said free end at a predetermined angle, a cylindrical opening extending through said bar and adapted to closely receive said cylindrical shaft, a channel in said bar communicating with one end of said cylindrical opening, and a key adapted to be received in said channel and transverse slot when said shaft is received in said opening for maintaining said shaft in a predetermined angular relationship with said bar.

Claim 3

The tufting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means further includes a threaded aperture extending into said bar and communicating at substantially right angles with said cylindrical opening, and a locking screw adapted to be threadedly received in said threaded aperture and engage the shaft.

Claim 4

The tufting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said knife block comprises a body member having side edge portions and a connecting web, means defining a pair of opposed grooves extending into said side edge portions and receiving said knife, means defining a pair of spaced slots extending laterally into one of said side edge portions and into communication with the associated groove, and clamping means for retaining said knife in said grooves and comprising a U-shaped bracket including a pair of spaced-apart legs adapted to enter said spaced slots and engage said knife at spaced points.

Claim 5

A knife block for cut pile tufting machine comprising, a body member having side edge portions and a connecting web, means defining a pair of opposed grooves extending into said side edge portions for mounting a knife therein, means defining a pair of spaced slots extending laterally into one of said side edge portions and into communication with the associated groove, and clamping means for securing a knife in said opposed grooves and comprising a bracket including a pair of spaced-apart legs adapted to enter said lateral slots, and means for translating said legs into said slots such that said legs will engage a knife positioned in said opposed grooves.

Claim 6

A knife block for cut pile tufting machine comprising, a body member having side edge portions and a connecting web, means defining a pair of opposed grooves extending into said side edge portions for mounting a knife therein, means defining a pair of spaced slots extending laterally into one of said side edge portions and into communication with the associated groove, and clamping means for securing a knife in said opposed grooves and comprising a bracket including a pair of spaced-apart legs adapted to enter said lateral slots, and means for translating said legs into said slots such that said legs will engage a knife positioned in said opposed grooves.

Claim 7

A knife block as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for translating said legs into said slots comprises a threaded bore extending laterally into said one side edge portion intermediate said slots, an aperture in said bracket, and a threaded member adapted to extend freely through said bracket aperture and into engagement with said threaded aperture.

Claim 8

A knife block as defined in claim 5 wherein said bore extends laterally into said one Side edge portion a distance less than the lateral extent of said slots.

Claim 9

A knife block as defined in claim 6 further comprising means for mounting said block to a tufting machine knife bar in a predetermined angular relationship and including a laterally extending cylindrical shaft connected to the side edge portion opposite said one side edge portion and terminating in a remote free end, and means defining a transverse slot in said remote free end at a predetermined angle for aligning said block with said knife bar.

Claim 10

A knife block for a cut pile tufting machine comprising, a body member having side edge portions and a connecting web, said web defining a pair of oppositely directed planar faces, and said side edge portions extending transversely beyond each of said faces, means defining a first pair of opposed grooves lying flush with one of said planar faces and extending into said side edge portions for mounting a first knife therein, and means defining a second pair of opposed grooves lying flush with the other of said planar faces and extending into said side edge portions for mounting a second knife therein, means defining a pair of spaced slots extending laterally into one of said side edge portions and into communication with each of the associated grooves, a threaded bore extending laterally into said one side edge portion intermediate said slots, and clamping means for securing a pair of knives in said opposed grooves and comprising a U-shaped bracket including a pair of spaced-apart legs and an intermediate segment, said intermediate segment including an aperture and said legs being adapted to enter said spaced slots, and a threaded member adapted to pass freely through said aperture in said intermediate segment and into threaded engagement with said bore whereby said legs may be advanced into said slots to engage at spaced points a pair of knives positioned in said opposed grooves.

Claim 11

A knife block for a cut pile tufting machine comprising, a body member having side edge portions and a connecting web, said web defining a pair of oppositely directed planar faces, and said side edge portions extending transversely beyond each of said faces, means defining a first pair of opposed grooves lying flush with one of said planar faces and extending into said side edge portions for mounting a first knife therein, and means defining a second pair of opposed grooves lying flush with the other of said planar faces and extending into said side edge portions for mounting a second knife therein, means defining a pair of spaced slots extending laterally into one of said side edge portions and into communication with each of the associated grooves, a threaded bore extending laterally into said one side edge portion intermediate said slots, and clamping means for securing a pair of knives in said opposed grooves and comprising a U-shaped bracket including a pair of spaced-apart legs and an intermediate segment, said intermediate segment including an aperture and said legs being adapted to enter said spaced slots, and a threaded member adapted to pass freely through said aperture in said intermediate segment and into threaded engagement with said bore whereby said legs may be advanced into said slots to engage at spaced points a pair of knives positioned in said opposed grooves.